Fungus ball of the maxillary sinus: Retrospective study of 48 patients and review of the literature.

Background: Maxillary fungus ball (FB) is the most frequent paranasal localization.

Objective: To review clinical presentation, surgery and results of treatment in our series of patients with maxillary FB. To review the literature concerning treatment of maxillary FB.

Single-step surgical treatment of odontogenic maxillary sinusitis: A retrospective study of 98 cases.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to review clinical and radiological presentation, surgery, and results of treatment in patients with chronic odontogenic maxillary sinusitis (OMS) treated with a single surgical procedure, including endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and oral surgical approaches to treat the odontogenic source of infection.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective case series analysis of 98 patients was performed. All the patients received ESS.

Incidence of Maxillary Sinus Disease Before Sinus Floor Elevation Surgery as Identified by Cone-Beam Computed Tomography: A Literature Review.

The purpose of this study is to review the literature to assess the incidence of maxillary sinus disease before sinus floor elevation surgery (SFE) as identified by cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT). Only studies in which CBCT was performed in patients for dental implant placement in the past 10 years were considered. Eleven studies were identified.

Open Versus Arthroscopic Mosaicplasty of the Knee: A Cadaveric Assessment of Accuracy of Graft Placement Using Navigation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare an open freehand mosaicplasty technique with an arthroscopic technique for the treatment of osteochondral lesions by measuring the instrument deviation, quantifying this deviation, and providing numerical information on the difference in the outcomes of these techniques.

Methods: Four cadaveric knees were used. Reference markers were attached to the femur, tibia, and donor/recipient site guides.

Adipose tissue derived stem cells: in vitro and in vivo analysis of a standard and three commercially available cell-assisted lipotransfer techniques.

Introduction: Autologous fat grafting is commonly used to correct soft-tissue contour deformities. However, results are impaired by a variable and unpredictable resorption rate. Autologous adipose-derived stromal cells in combination with lipoinjection (cell-assisted lipotransfer) seem to favor a long-term persistence of fat grafts, thus fostering the development of devices to be used in the operating room at the point of care, to isolate the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and produce SVF-enhanced fat grafts with safe and standardized protocols.

The TTTT B lymphocyte stimulator promoter haplotype is associated with good response to rituximab therapy in seropositive rheumatoid arthritis resistant to tumor necrosis factor blockers.

Objective: To investigate the polymorphisms in the promoter region of the B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) gene as markers of response to rituximab (RTX) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: The study was first conducted in 152 Italian RA patients and then replicated in an additional 117 RA patients (73 Italian, 44 British). The European League Against Rheumatism response criteria were used to evaluate the response rate at months 4 and 6 after the first cycle of RTX, by means of the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints using the erythrocyte sedimentation rate; patients were classified according to the best response shown between months 4 and 6.

Incidence and risk factors of the intraoperative localization failure of nonpalpable breast lesions by radio-guided occult lesion localization: a retrospective analysis of 579 cases.

Background: The radio-guided occult lesion localization (ROLL) technique allows the identification of nonpalpable breast lesions by means of the preoperative, intratumoral injection of a radiotracer. Our study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors of ROLL failure.

Methods: We collected data about all women who underwent ROLL in our department from 2002 to 2009, focusing on patient characteristics such as breast size and density, lesion size, localization, histology, radiologist, and surgeon experience.

Chlamydophila psittaci subclinical infection in chronic polyarthritis.

Objectives: Recent evidence indicates that Chlamydophila psittaci (Cp) may establish chronic infections, which may promote autoimmunity and/or B cell lymphoproliferation.

Methods: The presence of a subclinical Cp infection was investigated in 293 patients with chronic inflammatory polyarthritis, including 175 patients with rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive and/or anti-CCP-positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 118 with seronegative polyarthritis (46 RF-negative/anti-CCP-negative RA, 36 psoriatic arthritis and 36 undifferentiated spondyloarthritis). One hundred and eighty-five healthy controls were also investigated.

Minimally invasive esophagectomy: thoracoscopic esophageal mobilization for esophageal cancer with the patient in prone position.

Background: Surgical resection is the mainstay treatment for resectable esophageal cancer. Minimally invasive esophagectomy is performed with increasing frequency and proves to be a safe and effective surgical alternative to the open technique. Minimally invasive esophagectomy using thoracoscopic esophageal mobilization with the patient in prone position seems to offer some advantages with regard to surgeon ergonomics and clinical outcome.

Study on the possible role of the -174G>C IL-6 promoter polymorphism in predicting response to rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Identification of genetic biomarkers of response to biologics in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a relevant issue. The -174G>C interleukin-6 (IL-6) promoter polymorphism was investigated in RA patients treated with rituximab (RTX), being IL-6 a key cytokine for B cell survival and proliferation, thus possibly implicated in rituximab efficacy.

Methods: The study was conducted in a real-life retrospective cohort of 142 unselected RA patients (120F/22M) treated with RTX and referred to 7 rheumatologic centres in the north of Italy.

The CC homozygosis of the -174G>C IL-6 polymorphism predicts a lower efficacy of rituximab therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.

Identification of genetic biomarkers of response to biologics in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a relevant issue. Being IL-6 a key cytokine for B cell survival, the interleukin-6 (IL-6) -174G>C and the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) D358A gene polymorphisms were investigated in 158 RA patients treated with rituximab (RTX). One hundred and twenty-eight (81.

B-lymphocyte stimulator and a proliferation-inducing ligand serum levels in IgA-deficient patients with and without celiac disease.

IgA deficiency (IgAD) is the most common form of immunodeficiency and frequently associates with autoimmunity, especially with celiac disease (CD). The mechanisms underlying IgAD and the development of autoimmunity are still relatively unknown. Elevated B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) and APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand) serum levels characterize several autoimmune diseases.

BLyS and April serum levels in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases.

Elevated B-Lymphocyte Stimulator (BLyS) and April (a proliferation-inducing ligand) expressions characterize several autoimmune diseases. We here analysed the possible role of BLyS and April in autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD), comprising Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and Graves' disease (GD). Seventy-seven patients with AITD and 77 blood donors (HBD) were enrolled in the study.